Nicki Minaj Does O.P.I.

For all of you Nicki Minaj lovers out there, you might be pretty excited to know that OPI is expecting to release a line of nail polish in January of 2012.

This line includes 6 new colors, all named after the superstar's hit songs.

(Left to right: Metallic 4 Life, Save Me, Did it On 'Em, Super Bass Shatter, Fly & Pink Friday)

(I made the picture larger so you can see the details of these unique colors.)

Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, an OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director was quoted in why this line of polish is a no-brainer: "Nicki has taken the hip-hop world by storm, but her music is only part of the equation. She's also become a fashion inspiration, noted for her daring costumes and hair color both on and off the stage."

When these much anticipated polishes hit stores they will run for $8.50 a bottle. Check them out after the new year!

NOTE: In my research there has been some confusion as to which color "Pink Friday" is. Above is one version, below is another.


For more information visit www.opi.com

Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub

I want to just take a second to talk about a skincare product that I am OBSESSED with.

As you may or may not know, I am obsessed with watching beauty videos on www.youtube.com.
One of the first beauty gurus that I stared watching was Kandee Johnson.

Not only is she gorgeous, but she's also a professional make-up artist with an awesome bubbly personality.  

Recently, she did a YouTube video on her skincare routine that I just HAD to watch.

I'm definitely a deal hunter by nature, but the one thing that I believe in investing in is your skin. A good skincare routine can make you not only look better, but feel better about yourself. And for you make-up lovers, a good skincare routine can make for a perfect canvas for make-up. 

ANYWAY, aside from that little skincare rant, Kandee Johnson's recent skincare video got me interested in a new product: Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub. 

Kandee uses this product every night to "get in there" and clean out her pores and even remove her make-up. She always has such nice skin, so I figured I would go check out this product at my local Target store. 

This scrub is 99.9% natural and made up of ground almonds, oats, pecans, almond oil, glycerin, as well as sweet orange and grapefruit oils. This stuff is AMAZING.

All you have to do is grab a little bit in your hand and add a small amount of water to it. This will help to exfoliate your skin and make it so smooth. Plus, it smells really good. My skin has not only been softer, but also smoother, and has a glow to it. 

At my local Target, this scrub was only $7! That's pretty cheap for something that I think will end up being one of my skincare staples.

Give it a try & remember that it's okay to invest in your skin. 

P.s. Here is Kandee Johnson's YouTube video, or you can watch more of her channel at: www.youtube.com/kandeejohnson

Folica.com Deal!

Almost 3 years ago now I made a couple of purchases from a site called www.folica.com. 

This site offers TONS of discounted hair tools and products that in a beauty supply store would cost you double!

One of my very favorite brands that I have ever purchased was introduced to me through this site: Sedu.

My first purchase was a Sedu Revolution hair straightener which I fell in love with & then purchased the Sedu Ultra Silent Blow Dryer which I am also obsessed with.

When you make a purchase, you have the option to sign up for an account. I STRONGLY recommend doing this because it leads to SO many deals.

In fact, I thought I would share one that I just got today!

On Folica.com right now, they are offering a deal for a Sedu Revolution Pro 3600i blowdryer for $99! This dryer is normally $200!! This dryer also comes with 2 diffuser tips.

As if they isn't a good enough deal already, you also get free shipping & a free gift!

You have to check out this deal! & while you're on there, browse around a bit.

Everyone loves a good deal :). 

New Trend: Magnetic Nail Polish

So I know that I JUST posted about nail polish. But what can I say, I'm addicted :).

Just the other day I was browsing through YouTube videos and I saw something about "Magnetic Nail Polish". Of course I had to look into it, as any nail polish addict would.

These types of nail polishes are developed with metallic particles that create a pattern on the nail using a magnent. All you have to do is paint the polish on, and then hold the magnent over the nail; as close as you can without touching the wet polish. The iron powder in the polish gravitates toward the magnent creating a design on the nail.

The design you get on your nail is one that his particular and hidden in each magnent. The image you should get on your nail should be printed on the front of the polish bottle.

Unfortunately, because this is so new, I've only seen them in two places. Online & in Sephora stores. They can be found at www.sephora.com by searching "magnetic nail polish". The brand you should find will look like the image below & is also available in other colors. This brand of nail polish will run you $16 a bottle. If this price is too steep for you, try just searching the polish on saving sites like www.amazon.com or www.ebay.com.

If you don't want to shell out the $16 dollars, and you're not big on online shopping, just hang in there. Because this trend is so new, it will take a little while to filter down into beauty supply stores and local drugstores. But I promise it will be worth the wait!

Chanel Peridot Dupes

A nail polish trend that has trickled over from fall to winter, is the trend of duo-chromes.

Duo-chromes are nail polishes are appear one color in one light or in one direction, and then appear a different color in another light or direction.

#1.

A very popular duo-chrome nail polish is one by Chanel called Peridot. 

This color is a gorgeous olive green/gold-yellow. 

[www.channel.com]

However, no matter how gorgeous this color is, it is $24 a bottle. If you are a true nail polish lover, then the price might not be a problem. If it is, the next option might be a little more your speed. 

#2.

A cheaper duo-chrome polish that resembles this Chanel polish is one by Butter London called Wallis.

Like Peridot, Wallis, is also an olive green/gold polish. However, this polish will run you $14. 

If $14 is still a little steep, try option #3.

[ButterLondon.com]

#3.

This color is by a brand called Borghese in the color Euro Green. This polish can be found at Rite Aid & can run you $7-$8. Still too expensive? Try #4 for a little bit cheaper.

#4.

 China Glaze- Peace on Earth

This polish can run you between $6-$7. This polish is a little more accessible and can be found in beauty supply stores as well as online. This polish though is a little more olive green than the others. If this still still too expensive, try the last option: #5.

[ChinaGlaze.com]

#5.

Ultra Pro- Mossy Britches

This polish can be found at Sally Beauty Supply & only runs $4.29 or $3.79 will a Sally Beauty Club Card.

[SallyBeauty.com]

There are probably plenty different brands that offer these colors in different variations, for different prices. You just have to do a little research!

However, although there are many colors LIKE Chanel Peridot, it is definitely a color that stands among the top of its competition. 

Just A Little Tip (well, 5 of them)

When I was in high school, I used to have completely clear skin. Which to me was strange since usually that is when everyone is going through their skin issues. Believe me, I was thankful for it! Right when I go into college, my skin started to have a few more breakouts every now and then; nothing drastic, but enough to bother someone who used to have clear skin. I know that its from stress, but in college you just can't avoid the stress.

Here are some helpful tips I have learned along the way. Some you may already know, but you'd be surprised how many of them you may have forgotten.



Tip #1: Wash your face morning & night. NO MATTER WHAT.
Believe me, I know that sometimes we get a little lazy, or maybe a little busy. But make it a routine. Get up, wash you face. Wash your face, go to bed. If you go to sleep with your face dirty, you leave that dirt and oil on your pillow, which them lays it right back into your pores. Which leads me to my next tip..

Tip#2: Wash your sheets & pillowcases at least once a week.
I know that as a busy college student it might be hard to actually wash them once a week. If you can't wash them, change them. Walmart.com or any other get-everything-you-need kind of stores have basic standard pillowcases for a only a few dollars. Take advantage of them until you can find time to wash your regular ones.

Tip #3: DRINK LOTS OF WATER.
This one is pretty clear. Water is all around good for you, but especially good for your skin. Always have some water with you. Staying hydrated will keep your skin hydrated and clear too.

Tip #3: Watch what you eat. 

Whatever you eat is expressed directly on your face. Greasy food can make for greasy skin. Its as simple as that.

Tip #4: Let your skin breathe.
Almost every girl likes wearing make-up. It makes us feel pretty. But, so can clear skin. If there's nothing going on and you're not going anywhere for the day, just relax. Don't wear any make-up, and let your skin gets some fresh air. If you're not one for completely bare skin, try a tinted moisturizer. It's a lighter version of a foundation that can allow for coverage with a little room for air.

Tip #5: Don't just clean, medicate.
To me, this is the most important of all of these tips. I spent years washing my face with different medicated facewashes and then applying a regular moisturizer afterward. Recently, I have been using a regular, non-medicated facewash, and then following it with a medicated routine. After I wash my face with Philosophy's Purity facewash with my Clarisonic, I follow it up with a medicated toner by SeaBreeze, then a medicated lotion by Philosophy called Hope In A Bottle. Both with 2% Salicylic acid. Lastly, if I need it, I will use a spot treatment.

Think about it this way, if you have a cut on your finger putting medication on it, only to wipe it off a second later isn't going to heal anything. Instead, washing the cut, and then applying a medication that STAYS on your skin can allow for healing.

Your facial skin care is the same way. Once you clean your skin, applying medication on top can allow for maximum penetration. Give it a try!

Revlon: New Lip Butters!

Revlon, an affordable make-up brand, has recently released a new line of moisturizing lip products: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters. These very new, and very pigmented sheer lipsticks are very hard to find. Though they can be found at your local drugstores, they aren't even featured on www.revlon.com yet. (Currently there are 20 shades to choose from)

I heard that these new products were going to be slowly released in only certain areas so the company can see how well they sell before they release more. However, based on how well these colors are flying off the shelves and how many rave reviews they are getting, Revlon better be ready with trucks full of these little tubes!

If you are lucky enough to find some around you, go ahead and try them out!

BLT & Cheese Salad

Here's an interesting and delicious recipe for a salad that I found on the back of a crouton bag in my pantry:

• 1 head of iceberg lettuce (or Romain lettuce)
• 4 tbsp. fat free mayonnaise
• 1 tsp. dijon mustard
• 2 tsp. skim milk
• 1tsp. freshly ground pepper
• 2 tomatoes
• 12 strips of bacon, cooked crispy
• drained of fat and chopped into bits
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups Meijer Garlic & Cheese Croutons (or your favorite croutons).

Wash, spin dry & tear lettuce into pieces. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, mustard and milk; whisk until creamy. Add pepper. Coat lettuce and toss well. Add tomatoes, bacon, cheese and croutons. Toss again.

ENJOY!
For other BLT salad recipes visit www.cooks.com

Bath & Body Works: Be Enchanted

Bath & Body Work has released a new scent in their signature collection on November 1st.

This new scent is called Be Enchanted, and I'm IN LOVE with it. 

On www.bathandbodyworks.com this scent is described as a fresh sparkling blend of iced pomegranate and sugared petals inspired by all that glitters. To me, this scent is the perfect sweet scent that lingers on your skin for hours!

As with most of their fragrance releases, Be Enchanted comes in a body lotion, body mist, perfume, shower gel, body butter and triple moisture body cream. These items can run you anywhere from $11 to $25 dollars and are definitely worth it! 

AND, to make this even better, right now at my local Bath & Body Works, they are running a promotion for Buy 3, Get 3 FREE! This is an amazing deal! (On the website, their sale is Buy 3, Get TWO Free)

If you are obsessed with this new scent like I am, you could pick three of the products they offer in this scent and then get three free. OR you can mix and match with different scents.

Plus, when you buy something in a Bath & Body Works store, you get you get a promotional booklet that has 4 coupons inside. 

Check your local Bath & Body Works store & try this new scent! It is to die for!!

Newest Nail Colors & Lines!

Most all of the popular nail polish brands are releasing their winter/holiday collections.

Essie's newest winter collection consists of 6 new colors: 

        (Bangle Jangle)                 (Bobbing for Baubles)       (Brooch the Subject)

   (Cocktail Bling)            (School of Hard Rocks)        (Size Matters)

OPI, on the other hand, has gone for a more non-traditional approach. Instead of sticking with a common holiday theme, the brand as chosen to support The Muppets, which are coming into theaters on Thanksgiving. This line includes a whopping 12 new colors:

(From top left, to bottom right: Fresh Frog of BelAir, Rainbow Connection, Warm & Fozzie, Designer...de Better, Gettin' Miss Piggy With It, Excuse Moi!, Meep Meep Meep, Animal-istic, Gone Gonzo!, Divine Swine, Wocka Wocka, & Pepe's Purple Passion)

Chine Glaze has stuck with the holiday feel, releasing their collection entitled Let It Snow. This collection features 12 new colors are centralized around the glitter and colors of the holidays:

(From middle top, clockwise: Ring in the Red, Winter Berry, Velvet Bow, Glittering Garland, Holly-Day, Champagne Bubbles, Twinkle Lights, Snow Globe, Icicle, Tinsel Town, Blue Year's Eve,  & Poinsettia.)

Lastly, Orly's Winter/Holiday collection is called Holiday Soiree & features 6 new colors themed around France:

(From left to right: Androgynie, Ma Cheri, Oui, Au Champagne, Le Chateau, & Ingenue.)

Check out these new collections where ever they are sold for you.

Or find more information at

www.opi.com

www.chinaglaze.com

www.essie.com

www.orlybeauty.com